respectable

1 of 3

adjective

re·​spect·​able ri-ˈspek-tə-bəl 

1

: worthy of respect : estimable

2

: decent or correct in character or behavior : proper

3

a

: fair in size or quantity

a respectable amount

b

: moderately good : tolerable

a respectable performance

4

: fit to be seen : presentable

respectable clothes

respectability

ri-ˌspek-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

respectableness

ri-ˈspek-tə-bəl-nəs 

noun

respectably

ri-ˈspek-tə-blē 

adverb

respectable

2 of 3

noun (1)

: a respectable person

respectability

3 of 3

noun (2)

re·​spect·​abil·​i·​ty -ˌspektəˈbilətē 

-lətē, 

-i

1

a

: the quality or state of being respectable

b

: the status of being respectable : consequence

2

a

: a respectable person : respectable persons

the respectability of the town

b

: a respectable convention : decency

those little respectabilities that make group life bearable

Synonyms of respectable

Adjective

• respected
• prestigious
• reputable
• reputed
• distinguished
• esteemed
• estimable

Examples of respectable in a Sentence

Adjective

She comes from a very respectable family.

no respectable dietician would advise people to eat just one kind of food

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Los Angeles Kings have a respectable pipeline with a mix of skilled forwards and reliable defensemen. — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Yesterday’s punk, grunge, and rebel-outsider upstarts have an uncanny way of evolving into today’s elder statesmen of respectable infamy. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026

The team Jon-Eric Sullivan is building is about 10 legitimate NFL players away from having a respectable roster, and have $16 million in cap space to use for enhancements to the roster. — Omar Kelly august 15, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026

So far, the show has a very respectable 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, though that could move either direction once the series is out for the masses. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1770, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for respectable

• collectable
• collectible
• correctable
• delectable
• detectable
• expectable
• injectable
• protectable
• resectable
• selectable
• uncollectible
• undetectable

Kids Definition

respectable

adjective

re·​spect·​able

ri-ˈspek-tə-bəl

1

: worthy of respect : reputable

2

: decent or correct in character or behavior : proper

respectable people

3

: fair in size, quality, or quantity

a respectable amount of money

4

: fit to be seen : presentable

respectable clothes

respectability

-ˌspek-tə-ˈbil-ət-ē

noun

respectableness

-ˈspek-tə-bəl-nəs

noun

respectably

-blē

adverb